Energy harvesting methods for providing autonomous electrical power to vehicles and electrically-powered devices in vehicles

ABSTRACT

A method is provided that integrates an autonomous energy harvesting capacity in vehicles in an aesthetically neutral manner. A unique set of structural features combine to implement a hidden energy harvesting system on a surface of the vehicle to provide electrical power to the vehicle, and/or to electrically-powered devices in the vehicle. Color-matched, image-matched and/or texture-matched optical layers are formed over energy harvesting components, including photovoltaic energy collecting components. Optical layers are tuned to scatter selectable wavelengths of electromagnetic energy back in an incident direction while allowing remaining wavelengths of electromagnetic energy to pass through the layers to the energy collecting components below. The layers uniquely implement optical light scattering techniques to make the layers appear opaque when observed from a light incident side, while allowing at least 50%, and as much as 80+%, of the energy impinging on the energy or incident side to pass through the layer.

This non-provisional application for patent is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/416,259, filed in the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Jan. 26, 2017, titled “ENERGYHARVESTING METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUTONOMOUS ELECTRICAL POWER TO VEHICLESAND ELECTRICALLY-POWERED DEVICES IN VEHICLES”, which issued from theUSPTO as U.S. Pat. No. 10,347,777 on Jul. 9, 2019, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety; this application is also acontinuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/416,234, entitled “Energy Harvesting Systems For Providing AutonomousElectrical Power To Vehicles And Electrically-Powered Devices InVehicles,” which was filed in the USPTO on Jan. 26, 2017 and whichpublished as U.S. Patent Application Publication U.S. 2018-0212078 A1 onJul. 26, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosed Embodiments

This disclosure is directed to a unique method for forming a set ofstructural features on an outer surface of a body structure of avehicle, the structural features combining to implement an aestheticallyneutral, or aesthetically pleasing, energy harvesting system thatprovides autonomous electrical power to vehicles on which the system isinstalled, and/or to electrically-powered devices in those vehicles.Color-matched, image-matched and/or texture-matched optical layers,which provide an essentially same appearance from any viewing angle, andprovide superior light transmission across the range of lightimpingement angles, are formed over energy harvesting components,including photovoltaic components.

Related Art

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/006,143 (the 143 application), whichpublished as U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2016-0306078 A1 onOct. 20, 2016, entitled “Systems and Methods for Producing Laminates,Layers and Coatings Including Elements for Scattering and PassingSelective Wavelengths of Electromagnetic Energy,” and Ser. No.15/006,145 (the 145 application), which published as U.S. PatentApplication Publication US 2016-0306080 A1 on Oct. 20, 2016 entitled“Systems and Methods for Producing Objects Incorporating SelectiveElectromagnetic Energy Scattering Layers, Laminates and Coatings,” eachof which was filed on Jan. 26, 2016 and the disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, describe astructure for forming selectably energy transmissive layers and certainreal world use cases in which those layers may be particularlyadvantageously employed.

The 143 and 145 applications note that, in recent years, the fields ofenergy harvesting and ambient energy collection have gainedsignificantly increased interest. Photovoltaic (PV) cell layers andother photocell layers, including thin film PV-type (TFPV) materiallayers, are advantageously employed on outer surfaces of particularstructures to convert ambient light to electricity.

Significant drawbacks to wider proliferation of photocells used in anumber of potentially beneficial operating or employment scenarios arethat the installations, in many instances, unacceptably adversely affectthe aesthetics of the structure, object or host substrate surface onwhich the PV layers are mounted for use. PV layers typically must begenerally visible, and the visual appearance of the PV layers themselvescannot be significantly altered from the comparatively dark greyscale toblack presentations provided by the facial surfaces without renderingthe layers significantly less efficient, substantially degrading theiroperation. Presence of photocells and PV layers in most installationsis, therefore, easily visually distinguishable, often in an unacceptablydistracting, or appearance degrading, manner. Based on these drawbacksand/or limitations, inclusion of photocell arrays, and evensophisticated Thin Film Photovoltaic Cells (TFPV) material layers, isoften avoided in many installations, or in association with manystructures, objects or products that may otherwise benefit from theelectrical energy harvesting capacity provided by these layers. PV layerinstallations are often shunned as unacceptable visual detractors ordistractors adversely affecting the appearance or ornamental design ofthe structures, objects or products.

The last several decades have seen an expansive proliferation in allmanner of self powered (read “battery-powered”) devices. Developmentalefforts are particularly evident in the introduction andcommercialization of advanced electric vehicles, and particularlyelectric passenger vehicles by many of the major automotivemanufacturers worldwide.

The original electric passenger vehicles had very limited range basedpredominantly on limited battery size and first-generation efficiency inthose batteries. Developments in battery technology have extended theseranges to some degree. A challenge remains with respect to extendingusable ranges for the electric vehicles even further. This challenge isparticularly acute in areas in which infrastructure development,particularly with respect to the emplacement, and identification oflocations, of electric vehicle charging stations have failed to keeppace with the commercialization of the electric vehicles themselves.

The comparatively limited ranges of electric vehicles, and the limitedaccessibility to remote charging stations, has limited advancement inthe field of electric vehicles based in part on a phenomenon commonlyreferred to as “range anxiety.” Concern over limiting one's drivinghabits based on an ability to access a known power source to rechargethe electric vehicle has tended to serve as a detractor to broadercommercialization of electric vehicle technology. Separately invirtually all vehicles, a power drain on the installed electricalgeneration and storage systems in vehicles has increased rapidly andsubstantially. This power drain has increased as the numbers and typesof separately electrically-powered devices, provided for driver and/orpassenger safety and/or convenience in all manner of vehicles, includingelectric vehicles, have increased.

SUMMARY

The 143 and 145 applications introduce systems and methods that provideparticularly formulated energy or light transmissive overlayers, whichmay be provided to “hide” typical photoelectric energy generatingdevices. These overlayers, generally in the form of surface treatmentsand/or coverings, are formulated to support unique energy transmissionand light refraction schemes to effectively “trick” the human eye intoseeing a generally opaque surface when observed from a light incidentside. These overlayers are formulated to support transmission of visuallight, or near-visual light, in a manner that allows a substantialpercentage (at least 50% and up to 80+%) of the electromagnetic energyimpinging on the surface of the overlayer to penetrate the surfacetreatments and coverings in a comparatively unfiltered manner. Theoverlayers also provide an opaque appearing surface that exhibits anessentially same appearance when viewed from any viewing angle, and thatsupport a consistently superior light transmission across a full rangeof light impingement angles. The energy transmissive layers disclosed inthe 143 and 145 applications rely on a particular cooperation betweenrefractive indices of the disclosed micron-sized particles or sphereswith cooperating refractive indices of the matrix materials in whichthose micron-sized particles are suspended for deposition on preparedsurfaces. This coincident requirement between the refractive indices ofthe matrix material on the refractive indices of the suspended particleslimits deposition of these material suspensions of particles onsubstrates to techniques in which the deposition of the materials can becarefully controlled.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/415,851, filed in the USPTO on Jan.25, 2017, entitled “Compositions Of Materials For Forming Coatings AndLayered Structures Including Elements For Scattering And PassingSelectively Tunable Wavelengths Of Electromagnetic Energy”, whichpublished as U.S. Patent Publication US 2018-0210121 A1 on Jul. 26,2018; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/415,857, filed in theUSPTO on Jan. 25, 2017, entitled “Methods For Making Compositions OfMaterials For Forming Coatings And Layered Structures Including ElementsFor Scattering And Passing Selectively Tunable Wavelengths OfElectromagnetic Energy” which published as U.S. Patent Publication US2018-0210122 A1 on Jul. 26, 2018; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/415,864, filed in the USPTO on Jan. 25, 2017, entitled “DeliverySystems and Methods For Compositions Of Materials For Forming CoatingsAnd Layered Structures Including Elements For Scattering And PassingSelectively Tunable Wavelengths Of Electromagnetic Energy,” whichpublished as U.S. Patent Publication US 2018-0210119 A1 on Jul. 26,2018; the disclosures of which are each hereby incorporated by referenceherein in their entirety, improve upon the inventive concepts disclosedin the 143 and 145 applications by controlling the refractive indices ofthe particles themselves to capture all of the physical parametersleading to independent color selection in the particles, thereby easingreliance on a cooperative synergy between a composition of the particlesand a composition of the binder or matrix material in which theparticles are suspended.

It would be advantageous to apply the selectively colorable and/ortexturizable overlayers disclosed in detail in the above applications toenergy harvesting systems associated with vehicles, including passengervehicles to (1) extend ranges of battery-powered electric vehicles, (2)reduce reliance on a particular charging infrastructure by provideautonomous battery charging systems in the vehicles themselves, (3)individually power at least some of the myriad electrical componentdevices mounted in, or associated with, the vehicles to reduce a draw onvehicles' conventional electrical power generation and storage systems,and/or (4) reduce the cycle depth of the batteries, thereby increasingthe useful lifetimes of the batteries and reducing costs associated withbattery replacement, as the batteries in electric vehicles are, forexample, generally among the most costly subsystems in the thosevehicles.

Exemplary embodiments may provide substantially transparent micron-sizedparticles in a cooperating binder matrix to produce materialcompositions for layers in which refractive indices of the constituentelements of the layers are cooperatively controlled to producerepeatable coloration in the layers causing them to appear opaque from alight-incident side, and yet retaining a capacity to transmit at least50%, and as much as 80+%, of the incident electromagnetic energytherethrough to impinge, for example, on photoelectric or photovoltaicenergy harvesters positioned behind the layers.

Exemplary embodiments may form energy transmissive layers overphotovoltaic arrays, the energy transmissive layers providing an opaqueappearing surface that exhibits an essentially same appearance whenviewed from any viewing angle, and supporting a consistently superiorlight transmission across a full range of light impingement angles.

Exemplary embodiments may provide a TFPV material layer on a substratethat is in a form of a discrete vehicle body portion. The disclosed TFPVmaterial layers may be adhesively conformed to the discrete vehicle bodyportion and then hidden by being overcoated with the disclosed energytransmissive overlayer material.

Exemplary embodiments may provide electrical circuits that convert theenergy collected by the TFPV layer into usable electrical power for useby the conventional electrical systems in the vehicle and/or individualelectrical devices installed in the vehicle.

These and other features, and advantages, of the disclosed systems andmethods are described in, or apparent from, the following detaileddescription of various exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed method for forming aunique set of structural features on an outer surface of a vehicle bodystructure that combine to implement an aesthetically neutral, oraesthetically pleasing, energy harvesting system that is configured toprovide autonomous electrical power to a vehicle, and/or toelectrically-powered devices in the vehicle, will be described, indetail, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary objectenergy/light scattering surface layer disposed on a structural bodymember substrate according to this disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary vehicle energyharvesting system including a laminated energy harvesting componentwith, as one or more of the laminate layers, a TFPV material layerdisposed on a vehicle body structure component substrate, and anenergy/light scattering layer according to this disclosure disposed overthe TFPV material layer;

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate a series of schematic diagrams of steps in anexemplary process for forming a laminated energy harvesting component,with at least one layer constituted as an energy/light scattering layer,according to this disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a detail of anenergy/light scattering layer usable in the energy harvesting systemsaccording to this disclosure;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate schematic diagrams of an exemplary vehicle toprovide examples of emplacement of a laminated energy harvestingcomponent according to this disclosure on an outer surface of the bodystructure of the exemplary vehicle;

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary assembly lineusable for automated forming of the exemplary laminated energyharvesting component on an outer surface of a vehicle body structureaccording to this disclosure; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method for integrating aunique energy harvesting system, including an energy/light scatteringlayer, on an outer surface of a structural body member of a vehicleaccording to this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The disclosed methods for forming a unique set of structural features onan outer surface of a vehicle body structure, the structural featurescombining to implement an aesthetically neutral, or aestheticallypleasing, energy harvesting system that is configured to provideautonomous electrical power to a vehicle, and/or to electrically-powereddevices in the vehicle, will be described as being particularly usablefor extending a range of an electric vehicle and providing autonomousvehicle-integrated charging capacity for the energy storing devices inthe electric vehicle. These real-world applications for the disclosedenergy harvesting systems should not be considered as limiting thosesystems to charging, recharging, powering, or otherwise providingelectrical power to any particular battery, or other electrical systemcomponent, only in an electric vehicle. Rather, the disclosedembodiments are intended to provide an overview of a particular systemthat may be implemented to autonomously provide electrical power to anyvehicle and/or to any electrically-powered vehicle-installed devices.

Reference will be made to substantially transparent multi-layermicron-sized particles, and the material compositions in which thoseparticles may be delivered, and the systems and methods for delivery ofthose material compositions onto vehicle substrate surfaces that havebeen previously provided with conformal photovoltaic arrays,particularly in a form of a TFPV material layer, according to thisdisclosure. The disclosed schemes may include techniques for depositingand curing material compositions that suspend substantially transparentmulti-layer micron-sized particles in substantially transparent binderor matrix materials, techniques for developing material compositionsinto structural layers, and delivery systems and techniques fordeveloping the multi-layered structure, which may be a laminatedstructure, in which color-selectable electromagnetic energy transmissivelayers are formed over the photovoltaic components. These layers, onceformed, may selectively scatter specific wavelengths of electromagneticenergy impinging on an energy incident side of the layers, whileallowing remaining wavelengths of the electromagnetic energy to passtherethrough. These layers may uniquely implement optical lightscattering techniques in such energy transmissive layers to provide anaesthetically neutral outer surface that is substantially comparable toa conventional vehicle painted surface. These layers may also provide anopaque appearing surface that exhibits an essentially same appearancewhen viewed from any viewing angle, and that supports a consistentlysuperior light transmission across a full range of light impingementangles. Because the disclosed “coatings” do not include pigmentmaterials, the overlayers comprised of these substantially transparentmaterials are not susceptible to fading over time. In order to provide ausable electrical energy, the disclosed ovelayers may be particularlyformed to selectively scatter particular wavelengths of electromagneticenergy, including light energy in the visual, near-visual or non-visualrange, while allowing remaining wavelengths to pass therethrough with atransmissive efficiency of at least 50%, and as much as 80+%, withrespect to the impinging energy.

Additional details regarding the above-discussed energy transmissivelayers are available in the various related applications cataloguedabove, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein intheir entireties.

Exemplary embodiments described and depicted in this disclosure shouldnot be interpreted as being specifically limited to any particularlylimiting material composition of the individually-describedsubstantially transparent multi-layer micron-sized particles, and thebinder matrices in which those particles may be suspended, except asindicated according to the material properties generally outlined below.Further, the exemplary embodiments described and depicted in thisdisclosure should not be interpreted as specifically limiting theconfiguration of any of the described layers, or of the particularvehicle body structures, or vehicle body structural components, assubstrates on which the disclosed energy harvesting structures may beformed.

References will be made to individual ones, or classes, of energy/lightcollecting sensor components and energy/light activated devices that maybe operationally mounted in, installed in or placed behind the disclosedenergy/light scattering, light directing or light transmissive layers soas to be hidden from view when an object including such sensorcomponents or devices is viewed from a viewing, observation or lightincident outer surface of the object or layer, from which perspectivethe energy/light scattering, light directing or light transmissivelayers may appear “opaque” to the incident electromagnetic energy. Thesereferences are intended to be illustrative only and are not intended tolimit the disclosed concepts, compositions, processes, techniques,methods, systems and devices in any manner. It should be recognized thatany advantageous use of the disclosed structures and schemes forproviding an autonomous energy harvesting capability in a vehicleemploying systems, methods, techniques, and processes such as thosediscussed in detail in this disclosure is contemplated as being includedwithin the scope of the disclosed exemplary embodiments.

In this regard, the disclosed systems and methods will be described asbeing particularly adaptable to hiding certain photovoltaic materials,and the emerging class of increasingly efficient TFPV materials ormaterial layers, which are typically mils thick, on the surfaces of, orwithin objects, behind layers that may appear opaque from a viewing,observation or light incident side. As used throughout the balance ofthis disclosure, references to TFPV material layers are not intended toexclude other types of photovoltaic materials, and/or any generallyknown configuration as to any photocells, which may be adapted for usein particular vehicle body structural components.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram 100 of an exemplary objectenergy/light scattering surface layer 120 disposed on a transparentportion of a body structure 110. As shown in FIG. 1, the energy/lightscattering layer 120 is configured to allow first determined wavelengthsof energy/light, WLp, to pass through the energy/light scattering layer120. The configuration of the energy/light scattering layer 120simultaneously causes certain second determined wavelengths ofenergy/light, WLs, to be scattered back in an incident directionsubstantially as shown.

The energy/light scattering layer 120 may be configured of substantiallytransparent micron-sized particles of varying sizes. In embodiment,these particles may be substantially in a range of 5 microns or less.The substantially transparent micron-sized particles may be stabilizedin structural or other layers further comprised ofsubstantially-transparent matrix materials including, but not limitedto, dielectric materials. An ability to configure the substantiallytransparent micron-sized particles to “tune” the light scatteringsurface of the light scattering layer 120 to scatter particular seconddetermined wavelengths of energy/light, WLs, may provide the capacity ofthe energy/light scattering layer 120 to produce a desired visualappearance in a single color, multiple colors, or according to animage-wise visual presentation provided by the energy/light scatteringlayer 120. Put another way, depending on a particular composition of thesubstantially transparent micron-sized particles comprising theenergy/light scattering layer 120 (or multiple layers), one or morecolors, textures, color patterns, or color-patterned images may bevisually produced by the energy/light scattering layer 120.

In cases where the incident energy includes wavelengths in the visualspectrum, refractive indices of the energy/light scattering layer 120may be selectively tuned based on structural compositions of thesubstantially transparent micron-sized particles, and thesubstantially-transparent binder or matrix materials in which theparticles are suspended. In embodiments for use in vehicles according tothis disclosure, the energy/light scattering layer 120 is intended toappear as a single color across a surface of the energy/light scatteringlayer 120. To this end, the composition of the particles and matrixscheme across the surface of the energy/light scattering layer 120 maybe substantially identical, or homogenous.

A light scattering effect of the energy/light scattering layer 120 maybe produced in response to illumination generally from ambient light ina vicinity of, and/or impinging on, the surface of the energy/lightscattering layer 120. Alternatively, the light scattering effect of theenergy/light scattering layer 120 may be produced in response to directillumination generally produced by some directed light source 130focusing illumination on the light-incident surface of the energy/lightscattering layer 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram 200 of an exemplary vehicleenergy harvesting system including a laminated substrate surface energyharvesting component with, as one or more of the laminate layers, a TFPVmaterial layer disposed on a vehicle body structure component substrate,and an energy/light scattering layer according to this disclosuredisposed over the TFPV material layer. As shown in FIG. 2, the ambientenergy/light in a vicinity of the energy/light scattering layer 220, orthe energy/light directed from an energy/light source 230 at theenergy/light scattering layer 220, may pass through a substantiallyclear overlayer 225, which may be in the form of a substantially clearprotective layer, including for example a standard automotive industryclear coat finish. The energy/light scattering layer 220 may beconfigured to operate in a same manner as the energy/light scatteringlayer described above with reference to FIG. 1. At least firstwavelengths of energy/light, WLp, may pass through the energy/lightscattering layer 220, while at least the second wavelengths ofenergy/light, WLs, may be scattered back in the incident direction inthe manner described above.

The at least first wavelengths of energy/light, WLp, may impinge on aTFPV material layer 215 that may be disposed on, or adhered to, asurface of a vehicle body structure component substrate 210. The atleast first wavelengths of energy/light, WLp, impinging on the TFPVmaterial layer 215 may cause the TFPV material layer 215 to generateelectrical energy which may be passed to an electrical energyinterface/conditioning circuit 240 to which the TFPV material layer 215is electrically connected. The electrical energy interface/conditioningcircuit 240 may properly translate or otherwise condition the generatedelectrical energy from the TFPV material layer 215 to be one or more of(1) stored in a compatible vehicle energy storage device 250, (2) usedto directly supplement the vehicle electrical system 260 or (3) providedto directly power one or more vehicle electrically-powered devices 270.The batteries in electric vehicles are generally among the most costlysubsystems of the vehicles. The addition of the electric energygenerated by the disclosed systems may reduce a cycle depth of thebatteries, thereby increasing the useful lifetimes of batteries andreducing the costs associated with battery replacement.

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate a series of schematic diagrams of steps in anexemplary process 300 for forming a laminated energy harvestingcomponent, with at least one layer constituted as a light scatteringconstituent layer, according to this disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 3A, a substrate component 310 may be provided. Thesubstrate component 310 may be, for example, a vehicle structuralcomponent processed separately from the vehicle, as the vehicle movesdown the assembly line. Such a vehicle structural component may be oneor more of a hood, a trunk lid, a roof panel, a fender or othercomparable discrete body part, or any body portion. Otherwise, thesubstrate component 310 may be simply a discrete portion of the vehiclebody structure particularly targeted as the vehicle moves down theassembly line.

As shown in FIG. 3B, a photovoltaic layer (or component) 315 may bedisposed on the substrate component 310. The photovoltaic layer 315 maycomprise one or more of a photocell, an array of photocells, or a TFPVmaterial layer. Further, the photovoltaic layer 315 may be positioned ona contiguous surface of the substrate component 310, or may be partiallyembedded in a cavity in the surface of the substrate component 310, ormay be completely embedded in a cavity in the surface of the substratecomponent 310 in a manner that an upper surface of the photovoltaiclayer 315 substantially corresponds to an upper surface of the substratecomponent 310. In embodiments, a TFPV material layer may be adhesivelyattached to, or formed on, the substrate component 310. In embodiments,a surface treatment may be applied to portions of the surface of thesubstrate component 310 that are not covered by the photovoltaic layer315. The surface treatment, when applied, is intended to render anoptical reflectance of the portions on which the surface treatment isapplied to be substantially equal to an optical reflectance of the TFPVmaterial layer in order to provide a consistent undersurface forapplication of an energy/light scattering layer.

As shown in FIG. 3C, an energy/light scattering layer 320 may be formedon/over the photovoltaic layer 315 in a manner that first determinedwavelengths of the ambient light in the vicinity of the energy/lightscattering layer 320 may pass through the energy/light scattering layer320, in the manner described above with reference to the embodimentsshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, while at least second determined wavelengths ofthe ambient light may be scattered back off the energy/light scatteringlayer 320 in the incident direction in the manner described above.

As shown in FIG. 3D, the laminated structure of the energy harvestingcomponent may be finished by covering, or even encapsulating, thelaminated structure in a substantially clear, protective overcoat orouter layer 325. This protective overcoat or outer layer 325 may be in aform, for example, of a clear coat finish as may be typically orconventionally used in automotive manufacturing and automotive surfacefinishing.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a detail of anenergy/light scattering layer 400 according to this disclosure. Thedisclosed schemes, processes, techniques or methods may produce anenergy/light scattering layer 400 created using substantiallytransparent multi-layer micron-sized particles 420. Those particles maybe in range of diameters of 5 microns or less embedded in asubstantially-transparent dielectric matrix 410. As an example, thesubstantially transparent multi-layer micron-sized particles 420 mayinclude titanium dioxide nanoparticles in a layered form. Titaniumdioxide is widely used based on its brightness and comparatively highrefractive index, strong ultraviolet (UV) light absorbing capabilities,and general resistance to discoloration under exposure to UV light.

In embodiments of the energy/light scattering layers, colorations of thelayered materials may be achieved through combinations of (1) materialcompositions of the particles, (2) material compositions of the binders,(3) nominal particle sizes, (4) nominal particle spacings, and (5)interplay between any or all of those material factors. That “interplay”is important. In other embodiments, the material interplay may becaptured in varying layers of a substantially transparent multi-layermicron-sized particle, thus requiring the only variables to becontrolled as particle size and particle physical composition. Capturingall of the physical parameters in the substantially transparentmulti-layer micron-sized particle substantially eliminates anyrequirement for constituent interplay between the particles and thebinder, essentially rendering the particles binder or matrix materialagnostic. In embodiments including the multi-layer particles, the binderor matrix material is provided simply to hold the particles where theyland. Spacing between the particles is rendered based on a substantiallyclear, neutral outer coating on the substantially transparentmulti-layer micron-sized particles, typically of a substantiallytransparent dielectric material having a comparatively low (less than 2)index of refraction. The employment of multi-layer particles providesincreased latitude in the use of randomized delivery methods, includingspray delivery of an aspirated composition of non-pigment particulatematerial suspended in a comparatively transparent or relatively clearbinder material.

In embodiments with particles comprised of layered constructions, a coresphere may have a diameter to accommodate an optical path length throughthe core of approximately one half wavelength of light for the color ofinterest and may be comprised of 15 or more individual material layerseach having a thickness to accommodate an optical path length throughthe layer of one quarter wavelength of light for the color of interest.For individualized colors from blue to red this layer-on-layerconstruction surrounding the core sphere may result in an overallparticle size of from about 1.9 microns up to 2.6 microns. This range ofoverall particle sizes for the multi-layered construction of thetransparent spheres is comparable to the typical ranges of diameters ofpaint pigment particles. Apparent colors, patterns or images of lightscattering layers may be produced by adjusting refractive indices of theparticles according to a size of the spherical core and the layers ofmaterial deposited on the spherical core of the particles. Such particlecompositions allow for additional degrees of freedom in adjusting thecolor, transmission and scattering, i.e., in “tuning” the energy/lightscattering effects produced by the composition of the energy/lightscattering layer. As mentioned above, an outer layer may be formed of aneutral, transparent, often dielectric material of a thickness selectedto provide a minimum required separation between the “colorant” layersof the substantially transparent multi-layer micron-sized particles toreduce instances of refractive interference thereby causing variation inthe color presentation provided by the light scattering layer.

Dielectric materials from which the core sphere and the dielectricmaterials may be selected may be chosen generally from a groupconsisting of titanium dioxide, silicon carbide, boron nitride, boronarsenite, aluminum nitride, aluminum phosphide, gallium nitride, galliumphosphide, cadmium sulfide, zinc oxide, zinc selenide, zinc sulfide,zinc telluride, cuprous chloride, tin dioxide, barium titanate,strontium titanate, lithium niobate, nickel oxide, and other similarmaterials.

Particle size is related to the wavelength of interest, in the mannerdescribed above, in order to determine the color of the substantiallytransparent multi-layer micron-sized particles. Spacing between theparticles is related to the size in order to reduce interference betweenthe refractions of separate particles. In embodiments, the binder indexof refraction may be the same as an outer layer of the particles inorder that the outer layer does not optically interact with the nextlayer inward. In such an instance, the outer layer may be thicker andparticle-to-particle optical interaction is minimized. Because wherethere is a difference in index of refraction (according to Snell's Law),a reflection occurs. When two reflections are spaced properly, theinteraction of multiple reflections is what provides the color.

The outer layer may be configured to ensure that the colorant producinglayers of the particles are kept separated. In an instance in which thecolorant producing layers touch, no interaction reflection is generated.A result of a configuration of a particle according to this scheme is aparticle that acts in a form of a Bragg Reflector. Multiple weakreflections of a same wavelength reinforce each other resulting in astrong reflection of a particular wavelength based on the particle size,which determines the particle spacing, and the index of refraction alsodetermines the speed of light which in turn describes the opticalwavelength. A number of particles per unit volume of solvent (matrixmaterial) essentially ensures that the particles always touch.

The outer layer will typically be thicker than the underlayers of whichthe substantially transparent multi-layer micron-sized particle iscomprised in order to attempt to ensure that safe separation ismaintained. If the outer layer is controlled to be composed of amaterial that is at a same index of refraction as the binder or matrixmaterial, the outer layer does not optically react in interaction withthe binder or matrix material. The outer layer will be transparent, andmaintain that transparency when immersed in thesubstantially-transparent binder or matrix material having a same indexof refraction as the outer layer of substantially transparentmulti-layer micron-sized particles. In this manner, the outermostlayers, in their composition and thickness, provide the essentialinterstitial spacing between the colorant components so as to assurecolor fidelity. The layers thus formed will yield only the color that is“built in” to the substantially transparent multi-layer micron-sizedparticles according to the structure of the color yielding/generatingunderlayers inward of the outermost layers in the manner describedbelow.

With enough layers, in a range of 10 to 15, to as many as 30, layers,color concentration would be high enough in each of the particles so asto not require external coloration reinforcement provided by adjacentmulti-layer particles. The outer layers are comparatively clear, as isthe binder or matrix solution, and preferably having a comparativelysame index of refraction as between the material forming the outerlayers and the material forming the binder solution. This is to ensurethat there is no interaction between the particles in the binder, and nointeraction between the particles, specifically the coloryielding/generating components of the particles over a longer distance.The outer layers may be comparatively, e.g., 10 times the thickness ofeach of the underlying dielectric layers.

The substantially transparent multi-layer micron-sized particles may beformed in a very tightly-controlled particle build process. A sphericalcore may be formed in a material or layer deposition process such as,for example, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, to achieve thesubstantially transparent multi-layer micron-sized particles accordingto the disclosed schemes. Particle deposition control systems exist thatcan be scaled to produce these substantially transparent multi-layermicron-sized particles. Quality control in the particle build processproduces the necessary level of color consistency. There are, however,deposition processes that can be controlled to the units of nanometersthicknesses.

Additionally, embodiments of the multi-layered particles may includemetallic layers sandwiched in between pairs of dielectric layers. Athickness of the metallic layers may be between 0.01 nm and 10 nm, aslong as the metallic layers remain substantially transparent. Thepresence of such metallic layers is intended to enhance reflectivityproperties with respect to the multi-layered structure of the coloryielding/generating layers of the substantially transparent multi-layermicron-sized particles. Indium titanium oxide (ITO) is an example of ametallic layer that is conductive, yet substantially transparent. Atypical touch screen on a cellular telephone, for example, includes anITO surface.

Any suitable acrylic, polyurethane, clearcoat, or like composed binderor matrix material having a low index of refraction may be adapted tosuspend the multi-layer micron-sized particles for application to abroad spectrum of substrate materials. These may include, but not belimited to, for example, synthetic or natural resins such as alkyds,acrylics, vinyl-acrylics, vinyl acetate/ethylene (VAE), polyurethanes,polyesters, melamine resins, epoxy, silanes or siloxanes or oils. It isenvisioned that, in the same manner that paint pigment particles aresuspended in solution, the substantially transparent multi-layermicron-sized particles according to this disclosure may be suspended insolution as well. Unlike paint pigment particles, however, the opticalresponse of particles according to the disclosed schemes will not “fade”over time because there is no pigment breakdown based on exposure to,for example, ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The disclosed particles mayalso be substantially insensitive to heat.

According to the above, application methodologies that are supportablewith particles according to the disclosed schemes include all of thoseapplication methodologies that are available for application of paints,inks and other coloration substances to substrates. These include thatthe particles suspended solutions can be brushed on, rolled on, sprayedon and the like. Separately, the particles may be pre-suspended in thesolutions for on-site apparatus mixing into the deliverable solutions atthe point of delivery to a substrate surface. The particles may bedelivered via conventional aspirated spray systems and/or via aerosolpropellants including being premixed with the propellants forconventional “spray can” delivery. Finally, the particles may be drydelivered to a binder-coated substrate. Conventional curing methods maybe employed to fix the binder-suspended particles on the varioussubstrates.

In the above-described manner, a finished and stabilized apparentcolored, multi-component colored, texturized or otherwiseimage-developed surface transparent light scattering layer is produced.Mass production of such layers could be according to known delivery,deposition and development methods for depositing the light scatteringlayer forming components on the base structures as layer receivingsubstrates, and automatically controlling the exposure, activationand/or stabilization of the surface components to achieve a particularcolored, multi-colored, texturized and/or image-wise patterned lightscattering layer surface.

Additives may be included in the binder or matrix materials in which thesubstantially transparent multi-layer micron-sized particles are, or areto be, suspended to enhance one or more of a capacity for adherence ofthe formed transmissive layer to a particular substrate, including anadhesive or the like, and a capacity for enhanced curing of the layer,including a photo initiator or the like.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate schematic diagrams of an exemplary vehicle toprovide examples of emplacement of a laminated energy harvestingcomponent according to this disclosure on an outer surface of the bodystructure of the exemplary vehicle. Although depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5Bas a vehicle in a form of a pickup truck, it should be noted that anyvehicle may serve as a host to the disclosed laminated energy harvestingcomponent. As shown in FIG. 5A, any substrate surface of a structuralbody component of a vehicle may be used to host the laminated energyharvesting component. This may include a door of the vehicle hosting theenergy harvesting component 510, or separately a body side panel hostingan energy harvesting component 520. Additionally, the body structuralcomponents may be partially or substantially completely covered with thelaminated structure according to, for example, FIGS. 2 and 3 above. Asshown in FIG. 513, and as will be understood by those of skill in theart to be more preferable for better exposure to solar energy insunlight, horizontal surfaces may be covered, partially or substantiallycompletely, with a laminated energy harvesting component. Here,exemplary emplacements are shown on a hood 560, a roof component 570 andin a bed of the pickup truck 580. Separately, a solid, rollable,foldable or other cover in the form of, for example, a tonneau cover maybe provided for emplacement over the bed in the area depicted as 580 inFIG. SB. Regardless of the placement, wired or wireless connection maybe provided to, for example, an energy conversion component under thehood 560 in the engine/motor compartment of the vehicle in order tocollect the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic layers inthe laminated structure and to communicate compatible and/or conditionedelectrical energy to the vehicle system components as describedgenerally above in reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary assembly lineusable for automated forming of the exemplary laminated energyharvesting component on an outer surface of a vehicle body structureaccording to this disclosure. The exemplary system 600 may be used toprepare and build the laminated energy harvesting component structure ina manner similar to that described above with reference to FIGS. 3A-3D.

As shown in FIG. 6, the exemplary system 600 may include an assemblyline type transport component 640 which may be in a form of poweredroller elements 642, 644 about which a movable platform in a form of,for example, a conveyor belt 646 may be provided to move a vehicle pastmultiple processing station 680, 682, 684, 686 in a direction A toaccomplish the layer forming and finishing elements of the laminatedenergy harvesting component build process. Operation of the transportcomponent may be controlled by a controller 660.

A photovoltaic array or TFPV attachment station 610 may be providedalong the assembly line, or separately, to provide for adhesiveadherence of, for example, a TFPV material layer on a surface of thevehicle when the vehicle is positioned at processing station 680. Thoseof skill in the art will understand that individual hood, door, trunklid or roof panel elements may be separately processed by a separateTFPV attachment station 610, and provided to the assembly line processfor attachment to the vehicle positioned at processing station 680.Operation of the TFPV attachment station 610 may be controlled by thecontroller 660.

A layer forming device 630 may be provided at, for example, processingstation 682 as the vehicle moves in direction A from processing station680. The layer forming device 630 may comprise a plurality of spraynozzles or spray heads 636, 638, which may be usable to facilitatedeposition of a layer forming material over the previously placed TFPVmaterial layer on a surface of the vehicle.

The layer forming device 630 may be connected to an air source 615 viapiping 617 and may separately be connected to a layer material reservoir620 via piping 622. The layer forming device 630 may be usable to obtaina flow of layer material from the layer material reservoir 620 andentrain that layer material in an airstream provided by the air source615 in a manner that causes aspirated layer material to be ejected fromthe spray nozzles or spray heads 636, 638 in a direction of the vehiclewhen the vehicle is positioned at processing station 682.

The layer material reservoir 620 may include separate chambers for asupply of substantially transparent micron-sized particles and for asupply of binder or matrix material. In embodiments, the particles andthe matrix material may come premixed, the particles and matrix materialmay be mixed in the layer material reservoir 620, or the particles andmatrix material may be separately fed to the layer forming device 630and mixed therein before being entrained in the airstream provided tothe layer forming device 630 by the air source 615. The layer formingdevice 630 may be a mounting structure or, in embodiments, the layerforming device 630 may be a movable structure mounted to the end of, forexample, an articulated arm 634 that is mounted to a base component 632.In embodiments, a particle and matrix material mixture may be providedin a material supply reservoir of a conventional spray gun with an airsource for delivery of the layer material in a delivery operationsimilar to a conventional spray painting of a surface. In embodiments,an entire surface of the vehicle body structure may be covered with thelight scattering layer material, not just the portions of the vehiclebody structure covered in the TFPV material layers. In this manner, aconsistency of coloration in the vehicle finish may be obtained asbetween areas including photovoltaic arrays and areas of the vehiclesurface that do not include such underlying elements. Operation of thecomponents of the layer forming device 630 (including the articulatedarm 634 and the base component 632), the air source 615, and/or thelayer material reservoir 620, may be separately controlled by thecontroller 660.

The vehicle body structure may be translated then to a processingposition 684 opposite a layer curing station 650 that may employ knownlayer fixing methods including using heat, pressure, photo-initiatedchemical reactions and the like to cure and/or finish the lightscattering layers on the vehicle surface. The vehicle body structure maythen be translated to a processing station 686 opposite a surfacefinishing station 670 which may, for example, to deposit a clearcoatover an entire surface of the vehicle, or undertake other finishingprocessing of the surface of the vehicle body component.

The exemplary system 600 may operate under the control of a processor orcontroller 660. Layer and object forming information may be inputregarding at least one light scattering layer to be formed and fixed onan object or substrate by the exemplary system 600. The controller 660may be provided with object forming data that is devolved, or parsed,into component data to execute a controllable process in which one ormore light scattering layers are formed to produce a single color, amulti-color, texturized surface or an image-patterned presentation whenviewed from the viewing, observation or light incident side of afinished light scattering layer on the vehicle.

The disclosed embodiments may include an exemplary method forintegrating a unique energy harvesting system, including an energy/lightscattering layer (energy transmissive layer), on a structural bodymember of a vehicle. FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of such an exemplarymethod. As shown in FIG. 7, operation of the method commences at StepS700 and proceeds to Step S710.

In Step S710, one or more discrete substrate surfaces of a vehicle body(a vehicle body part) may be prepared to receive a layer of TFPVmaterial. The vehicle body part may be processed as a separatecomponent, including, for example, a door panel, a hood, a trunk lid, aroof panel, or other vehicle body structural component, which may belater attached to an in-process overall body structure of a vehicle.Otherwise, the vehicle body part may be a discrete portion or portionsof the in-process overall body structure of the vehicle. Operation ofthe method proceeds to Step S720.

In Step S720, a layer of TFPV material may be applied to the preparedsubstrate surface of the vehicle body part according to an applicationmethod that may adhere the layer of TFPV material to the body structure.Compatible adhesive materials, including chemical, heat, or lightactivated adhesive materials, may be used to provide the adherence ofthe TFPV material layer to the vehicle body part. It should be notedthat portions of the particular vehicle body part, or other portions ofthe vehicle body structure, not covered by the TFPV material may beseparately or coincidentally prepared with finishes that are comparableto the finish displayed by the TFPV material layer in order that thevehicle body part, or the overall body structure of the vehicle, mayprovide a consistent underlying appearance, particularly with regard toan optical reflectance, for application of the energy transmissive layermaterials thereon. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S730.

In Step S730, a liquefied mixture of components for forming an energytransmissive layer composed of substantially transparent particlessuspended in a substantially transparent liquefied matrix may bedeposited over the layer of TFPV material, or over an entire bodystructure of the vehicle. Such deposition may be according to anytechnique by which a liquefied matrix, which may appear in the form ofthe paint-like substance, may be applied to any substrate. In thisregard, the liquefied mixture may be poured on, rolled on, brushed on,or sprayed on the vehicle body surface. In this latter case, anairstream may be provided from an air source in which the liquefiedmixture may be entrained as one of an aspirated and aerosol liquefiedmixture. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S740.

As indicated above, in embodiments, the liquefied mixture may includeformed multi-layered substantially transparent particles suspended in asubstantially transparent liquefied matrix material to form theliquefied mixture. The substantially transparent liquefied matrixmaterial may be selected to have an index of refraction similar to thesubstantially clear outer layers or shells of the substantiallytransparent particles in order to substantially reduce any potential forrefractive interference between adjacent particles when deposited on thebody structure surface of the vehicle. The substantially transparentliquefied matrix material may include components to aid in adherence ofthe finished energy transmissive layers on the portions of the vehiclebody structure surface on which those layers are ultimately formed. Thesubstantially transparent liquefied matrix material may includecomponents to aid in fixing of the substantially transparent particlesin the layer, including heat-activated and/or light-activated hardeners.The sizing of the particles to be less than 5 microns expands thelatitude by which the substantially transparent particles suspended inthe matrix material may be delivered to the body structure surface ofthe vehicle by rendering those particles compatible with the spraytechniques discussed above. As such, in a delivery process that mirrorsconventional spray painting, the aspirated liquefied mixture may bedeposited on the prepared surface to form the energy transmissive layerthat passes certain wavelengths of energy/light through the layer andscatters other selectable wavelengths of energy/light to render aperceptibly single color, multi-color, patterned, texturized orimage-wise presentation of scattered light from the light incidentsurface based on one or more delivery passes for depositing the energytransmissive layer materials according to the above-described schemes.

In Step S740, the deposited liquefied mixture may be developed, cured,or otherwise fixed over the TFPV material layer, and on any otherportions of the overall body structure of the vehicle onto which theliquefied mixture is deposited for coloration of those portions of thebody structure of the vehicle to form a fixed energy transmissive layerthereon. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S750.

In Step S750, a protective coating may be applied over the energytransmissive layer. The protective coating may take a form of, forexample, a commercial clearcoat finishing composition applied inconventional vehicle surface finishing. Operation of the method proceedsto Step S760.

In Step S760, the applied protective coating may be cured or otherwisefixed over the energy transmissive layer formed on the surface of thevehicle body part. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S770.

In Step S770, in instances in which the vehicle body part was a separatecomponent of the overall vehicle body structure, the finished vehiclebody part may be assembled to the in-process vehicle. Operation of themethod proceeds to Step S780.

In Step S780, wired (or wireless) connections may be made from anelectrical output of the layer of TFPV material to a compatible and/orconditioning circuit that is configured to provide a connection of theenergy harvesting component in the form of the layered structureincluding the TFPV material layer to one or more of anelectrically-powered vehicle component, an electrical power source inthe vehicle and/or an electrical power storage device in the vehicle.Operation of the method proceeds to Step S790.

In Step S790, the in-process vehicle may be transported for furtherfinish processing according to known methods. Operation of the methodproceeds to Step S800, where operation of the method ceases.

The above-described exemplary particle and material formulations,layered component build processes, and systems and methods for applyinglaminated energy harvesting components to portions of a vehicle bodystructure reference certain conventional components, energy harvestingelements, materials, and real-world use cases to provide a brief,general description of suitable operating, product processing,energy/light scattering (transmissive) layer forming and vehicle bodymodification and integration environments in which the subject matter ofthis disclosure may be implemented for familiarity and ease ofunderstanding. Although not required, embodiments of the disclosure maybe provided, at least in part, in a form of hardware control circuits,firmware, or software computer-executable instructions to control orcarry out the laminated structure development functions described above.These may include individual program modules executed by processors.

Those skilled in the optics, electrical generation and vehicleproduction arts will appreciate that other embodiments of the disclosedsubject matter may be practiced in many disparate film forming, layerforming, laminate layer forming and vehicle production systems,techniques, processes and/or devices, including various machining,molding, additive and subtractive layer forming and manufacturingmethods, of many different configurations.

Embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may include processorcomponents that may implement certain of the steps described above viacomputer-readable media having stored computer-executable instructionsor data structures recorded thereon that can be accessed, read andexecuted by one or more processors for controlling the disclosedenergy/light scattering layer forming and vehicle integration schemes.Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can beaccessed by a processor, general purpose or special purpose computer. Byway of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media cancomprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, flash drives, data memory cards orother analog or digital data storage device that can be used to carry orstore desired program elements or steps in the form of accessiblecomputer-executable instructions or data structures for carrying intoeffect, for example, computer-aided design (CAD) or computer-aidedmanufacturing (CAM) of particular objects, object structures, layers,and/or layer components.

Computer-executable instructions include, for example, non-transitoryinstructions and data that can be executed and accessed respectively tocause a processor to perform certain of the above-specified functions,individually or in various combinations. Computer-executableinstructions may also include program modules that are remotely storedfor access and execution by a processor.

The exemplary depicted sequence of method steps represent one example ofa corresponding sequence of acts for implementing the functionsdescribed in the steps of the above-outlined exemplary method. Theexemplary depicted steps may be executed in any reasonable order tocarry into effect the objectives of the disclosed embodiments. Noparticular order to the disclosed steps of the methods is necessarilyimplied by the depiction in FIG. 7, except where a particular methodstep is a necessary precondition to execution of any other method step.

Although the above description may contain specific details, they shouldnot be construed as limiting the claims in any way. Other configurationsof the described embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods arepart of the scope of this disclosure.

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirablycombined into many other different systems or applications. Also,various alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements thereinmay be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are alsointended to be encompassed by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A method for providing a selectively colorable system thatproduces electrical energy for charging an electrical power storagedevice in an electrically powered vehicle in the presence of light,comprising: arranging an energy harvesting element on a surface of avehicle body; and forming an energy transmissive layer over the energyharvesting element on the surface of the vehicle body; the energytransmissive layer having a body-facing side facing the surface of thevehicle body, and an energy-incident side opposite the body-facing side,the energy-incident side presenting a consistent opaque appearance whenviewed from any aspect, and the energy transmissive layer passing 50% ormore of light energy impinging on the energy transmissive layer throughthe energy transmissive layer to activate the energy harvesting element,and the energy transmissive layer being formed of a material compositioncomprising a plurality of substantially-transparent particles and asubstantially-transparent matrix material that fixes the plurality ofsubstantially-transparent particles in a layer arrangement; forming eachof the plurality of substantially-transparent particles of a sphericalcore formed of a first transparent dielectric material, the sphericalcore having a value of a physical diameter equal to a half wavelength ofa first selected color of light component to be reflected by theparticle modified by a refractive index of the first transparentdielectric material; a plurality of material layers disposed radiallyoutwardly from the spherical core, each of the plurality of materiallayers being formed of at least a second transparent dielectricmaterial, and having a value of a physical thickness equal to a quarterwavelength of at least a second selected color of light component to bereflected by the particle modified by a refractive index of the at leastthe second transparent dielectric material; and an outer coatingcomprised of another transparent dielectric material having a selectedindex of refraction of 2 or less, the outer coating having a thicknessthat substantially eliminates reflective interference between the colorsreflected by adjacent particles when in contact with one another; andconnecting an electrical output of said energy harvesting element to anelectrical power storage device in the vehicle.
 2. The method of claim1, further comprising fixing the plurality of substantially-transparentparticles in the matrix material in a manner that causes theenergy-incident side to reflect one or more selectable wavelengths ofthe impinging light energy in all directions on the energy-incident sideto present the consistent opaque appearance.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising adjusting an index of refraction of the substantiallytransparent matrix material to be a same index of refraction as theouter coating.
 4. The method of claim 1, the energy harvesting elementcomprising a photovoltaic element.
 5. The method of claim 4, thephotovoltaic element being a photovoltaic film (PVF) material.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising applying the PVF material to oneor more first discrete portions of the surface of the vehicle body. 7.The method of claim 6, further comprising applying a layer of adhesiveto the one or more first discrete portions of the surface of the vehiclebody before applying the PVF material to the one or more first discreteportions, the layer of adhesive affixing the PVF material to the surfaceof the vehicle body in the one or more first discrete portions.
 8. Themethod of claim 6, further comprising applying a surface treatment to atleast second portions of the surface of the vehicle body, the secondportions of the surface of the vehicle body being different portionsthan the first portions, and the surface treatment rendering an opticalreflectance of the second portions substantially equal to an opticalreflectance of the PVF material in the first portions.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, the forming the energy transmissive layer over the energyharvesting element on the surface of the vehicle body structurecomprising: delivering the material composition in a liquid form; andapplying one of heat or light energy to fix the material composition toform the energy transmissive layer.
 10. The method of claim 9, each ofthe substantially-transparent particles having a diameter in a range of5 microns or less.
 11. The method of claim 10, each of thesubstantially-transparent particles having a diameter in a range of 1.0to 3.0 microns.
 12. The method of claim 11, the delivering the materialcomposition in a liquid form comprising: entraining the materialcomposition in an air stream; and spraying the entrained materialcomposition on the surface of the vehicle body.
 13. The method of claim12, further comprising separately entraining the plurality ofsubstantially-transparent particles and the substantially-transparentmatrix material in the air stream to form the material compositionsprayed on the surface of the vehicle body.
 14. The method of claim 1,further comprising establishing an electrical connection from the energyharvesting element to at least one of an electrical energy power source,an electrical energy storage device and an electrically poweredcomponent device in the vehicle for transmitting electrical energygenerated by the electrical harvesting element.
 15. The method of claim14, the electrical connection comprising at least one of an electricalenergy converting circuit or an electrical energy conditioning circuit.16. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging a transparentprotective coating over the energy transmissive layer.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, the energy transmissive layer being arranged to pass 80% ormore of light energy impinging on the energy transmissive layer throughthe energy transmissive layer to activate the energy harvesting element.18. The method of claim 1, the energy harvesting element being arrangedon a surface of the vehicle body by being at least partiallyaccommodated in a cavity in the surface of the vehicle body.
 19. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said electrical power storage devicecomprises a battery.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein said energyharvesting element comprises a thin film photovoltaic material layer.